An air ambulance charity has welcomed a £10 million pledge from the Government – but said it will have to bid to see any of it.

Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance Trust chief executive officer Jane Gurney said the budget announcement for 18 air ambulance services by the chancellor was “good news” – but added it costs £6.5 million a year to keep her own charity operational.

Phillip Hammond, the chancellor of the exchequer, said in his budget speech the Government will be making £10 million available to support the funding of capital projects for air ambulances in England.

But Ms Gurney said even if her charity applies for funding there is “no guarantee” it will receive the money.

She said: “This is good news, but it costs over £6.5 million each year to keep EHAAT alone operational. Because we will have to apply for funding there is no guarantee that our charity will receive any of this money.

“We look forward to hearing more about the chancellor’s plans and learning which of our projects might be eligible for funding.

“Even if we apply successfully, we will continue to depend on the generosity and good will of the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire to keep us flying and saving lives.”

In his statement Mr Hammond said: “Across the length and breadth of England, our air ambulance services work tirelessly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to get those with life-threatening illnesses and injuries to the expert medical care they need.

“They do a fantastic job and I am making £10 million of funding available to help them go on doing so.”